Sports Physicals in Portland

Ensure your child’s health before they join a sports team

You know sports are a great way to help children stay fit, learn new skills
and socialize. But you might not know why the physical that comes at the
beginning of the sports season is so important.

What is a sports physical?

In the sports medicine field, the sports physical exam is known as a preparticipation
physical examination (PPE). The exam helps determine whether it’s
safe for you to participate in a particular sport. In the state of Oregon,
students in grades seven to 12 are required to have a physical examination
once every two years if they want to start a new sport or begin a new
competitive season. But even if a PPE isn’t required, doctors still
highly recommend the exam.

The two main parts to a sports physical are the medical history and the
physical exam.

Medical history

This part of the exam includes questions about:

Serious illnesses among other family members

Illnesses that you had when you were younger or may have now, such as asthma,
diabetes or epilepsy

Any medications that you are on (including over-the-counter medications,
herbal supplements and prescription medications)

The medical history questions are usually on a form that students can bring
home, so they can ask their parents or guardians to help fill in the answers.
If possible, they should ask both parents about family medical history.

Looking at patterns of illness in your family is a very good indicator
of any potential conditions. It’s unlikely that any health conditions
you have will completely prevent you from playing sports.

Physical examination

During the physical part of the exam, the doctor will usually:

Record your height and weight

Take a blood pressure and pulse (heart rate and rhythm) reading

Test your vision

Check your heart, lungs, abdomen, ears, nose and throat

Evaluate your posture, joints, strength and flexibility

Although most aspects of the exam will be the same for males and females,
if the child has started or has already gone through puberty the doctor
may ask girls and boys different questions. For example, if a girl is
heavily involved in a lot of active sports, the doctor may ask her about
her period and diet.

A doctor will also ask questions about the use of drugs, alcohol or dietary
supplements, including steroids or other "performance enhancers"
and weight-loss supplements. These can affect a person's health.

At the end of the exam, the doctor will either fill out and sign a form
if everything checks out OK or, in some cases, recommend a follow-up exam,
additional tests or specific treatment for medical problems.

Tips for young athletes

Picture a school classroom. Big kids are often the same age as small ones,
and mixing them up in a game can get the smaller ones hurt. Even the bigger
kids can have immature muscles and bones and slower reaction times than adults.